To the editor:

Douglas County has a head start on health care reform when compared to the rest of the country. We are fortunate to have strong, coordinated public and private nonprofit health care services provided by numerous organizations in the Community Health Care Partnership (CHIP) that include Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Bert Nash, Health Care Access, the dental clinic, the health department, Watkins and Baker health services and Visiting Nurses, Rehabilitation & Hospice Care.

A new addition to the health care puzzle is the VNA Care Cottage assisted-living residence located at 3109 W. 26th St. This “home” offers the additional support of long-term care for folks unable to remain in their homes because they need help with personal care, medication administration and loving supervision that can be provided best in small settings. A minimum of two staff for four residents is provided in this licensed program.

VNA has expanded the criteria for admission to include anyone with the ability to walk independently or with the assistance of a cane or walker. As Lawrence resident Andrea Norris said in a recent e-mail to me, “I’ve been listening to reports on facilities for the aging and have been very interested in places that provide the kind of individual care and freedom of choice that Care Cottage offers. It sounds perfect. It’s the cutting edge of care and I really hope that it’s going to be available when I start to need significant personal care.”